used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
characterized by great determination
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
divisible by two
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
the sound of laughing
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
engage in
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
not any; not one
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
one of four equal parts
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
shirtsnounUS /ʃɜːrts/
plural of “shirt” — a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
express in speech
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
star-flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
swansnounUS /swɑːnz/
plural of “swan” — stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
at the time that
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
a late time of life
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of star-flowers.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is vain.’
